想放下一切去流浪的約瑟芬

On March 11, a deadly tsunami generated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit the north-eastern coast of Japan. Thousands were killed in such prefectures as Fukushima (福島), Iwate (岩手) and Miyagi (宮城). The disaster shocked the whole nation. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA, 人道事務協調廳) has estimated the earthquake has destroyed 20,000 homes, making 500,000 people homeless. About 430,000 people have been evacuated.

Not only has the tsunami devastated Japan, but it is also an international concern that radiation leakage due to the explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant may affect the rest of Japan and even the whole Asia. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan (日本首相菅直人) urged people living within 30km of the power plant to stay indoors.

In Hong Kong, people have snapped up milk powder produced in Japan. As there have been explosions at a nuclear power plant in the country, they fear milk powder imported from it in future may be contaminated by radiation.

Hong Kong parents are worried that milk powder from Japan may be in short supply because of the disaster. In Prince Edward Road, a long queue formed outside a shop that sold infant products. It limited each purchase to eight cans of milk powder. It ran out of stock in three hours.

According to an IHS Global Insight (經濟諮詢機構「IHS環球透視」) report, China accounted for 19.8% of the world's output in 2010, while the US accounted for 19.4%. China has overtaken the US and become the world's largest manufacturer. It was last ahead of the US a hundred years ago.

According to The Christian Science Monitor, a US newspaper, in 2010, China's total output was worth about US$2,050 billion, while that of US, just US$1,780 billion.

This year Hong Kong celebrates the 100th anniversary of its aviation activity, which began with balloon flights in the 19th century. Aviation has since developed rapidly with its economy. To mark the milestone, Hong Kong's aviation industry is organising a series of events.

■Aviation

The house is an ordinary two-storeyed farmhouse. However, to Christopher the duck, it is enormous and luxurious. Holding Christopher carefully in his arms, Benedict goes to his room on the second floor. He puts him in a big carton, where there is water and feed (飼料).

Benedict often carries Christopher with him to school. One day, he takes Christopher to the farm. The duckling sees for the first time how large it is. There is an infinite corn field, a stable (馬棚) in which a few horses are kept and, next to the duck pens, very large chicken pens. He no longer sees any one he knew in the duck pens, not even his mother. He has been away only for a couple of weeks, but the duck pens are very different now.

This year's CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) and NPC (National People's Congress) sessions opened respectively on March 3 and 5. They focus on the 12th Five-Year Plan (十二五規劃), which is expected to be endorsed by the NPC.

As some experts have pointed out, the Plan emphasises China's participation in global politics and economic development. Comparing the 12th Five-Year Plan with the 11th, experts have found it places greater emphasis on increasing internal demand because external markets have shrunk. China is expected to exert its influence in the rest of the world in the next five years. The world would therefore become more "Chinese".

Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah delivered the 2011-12 Budget on February 23. His proposal of injecting $6,000 into every MPF (Mandatory Provident Fund, 強制性公積金) account raised much controversy. The measure would cost $24 billion. As no person under 65 may draw the $6,000 out of his MPF account, most citizens prefer tax rebates.

In defence of the measure, John Tsang said it would give low-income and self-employed people financial security and, because MPF account holders (3 million) far outnumbered taxpayers (1.4 million), the proposal would on the whole be more beneficial to society. He also pointed out the MPF injection would in fact be an investment.